The Billionaire's secret Love by Manogyna Marthi (readnow .txt) 📕

Chapter 42

Augustus

I set the last piece of pancake on the porcelain plate along with a jug of orange juice on the dining table when I hear giggles from Abby's bedroom. "Gotcha" Veronica shrills holding Abby and carries her to the dining table. "Is our princess ready with the song she is going to perform at the Annual school function?" Veronica asks Abby in her happy voice. "Yes mama Allesandro helped me to practice the song several times. Now l am perfect in singing it." I take a sip of orange juice from the glass resting on the table and ask my daughter. "Who is this Allessandro princess?"

After the recent expansion of my business in shipping industry, the work at the office had been quite hectic. We are still in the process hiring employees. I started coming home late but thankfully Veronica takes care of everything concerning Abby. Though she travels a lot concerning her family business she took leave for two months especially for taking care of Abby. I will always be grateful to Veronica in helping me in this hard schedule.

We were sitting at the dining table having breakfast. It is our little family time since all of us started living together. "Mummy how was your trip at Brisbane?" Veronica chews the last piece of pancake and gives a smile to Abby. "It was good." Veronica's reply was short but I could note the hitherto happy cheer missing in her tone.

I held the hand of Veronica across the table and signaled her to reach my bedroom after the breakfast. Abby's school is quite nearby. It is a ten minute walk from home and just five minutes drive by car. Generally Saturdays are a holiday for Abby but today she has school concerning the last day of practice for the Annual day. I quickly drop Abby and return back home. I did not want any member of my family to feel distressed. Though Veronica is just a friend to me she had been there for me in my thick and thin times starting from my cat blossoms in dealing with Abby to the recent PTA meet held in school. Now it is time for me to repay her back.

"Veronica what's the matter? You seem to stay off since the time you reached home." I confront my friend. She looks at me with tearful eyes and bursts to a sob. "Sara wants us to get back. She had already spoken to her family and they have accepted our relationship. I am very frightened to admit this news to my parents. Last time I tried to invoke the matter there was a bursting volcano. I do not know...." I put a finger on her lips. "Shh...Don't get panicky. I will speak to your parents and everything will be settled." She looks at me surprise ridden but there was also a glimpse of relief in her eyes.

"What about Abigail? She is still young and requires the care of elders." I pat her hand giving her gentle glance. "Veronica when you entered Abby's life she was already eight months old. I looked after her as an infant, handling her as a child is not a huge issue. Moreover I don't think you would stop visiting Abigail." I try to lighten the matter with a jovial smile bringing her to a friendly hug.

****

"Mr. Rodriguez we have filed our tender to the most affordable price concerning the dock supplies to our Dubai agency.  Yet we weren't successful to grab the project. What is your explanation for this?" I stomp the file on the huge table concerning the board of share holders. "Sir actually..." He hesitated. "Say it out already." I was on the verge of bursting him out. "Sir we have an infringer in our company who is leaking out the company's confidential information to our competitive firms. I am almost at the goal of tracking him down. I promise you within next two days I will produce the culprit in your office." He tells me with a stiff upper lip prepared to battle out the matter.

********

It was four in the evening. My chauffeur stood besides opening the door of my car. In front was a huge stage decorated with flowers of different varieties and beautiful balloons? The venue glittered in brightness with cheers of crowd comprised of children and elders. As soon as I stepped out of my Ferrari the principal and teachers were ready in attention greeting me with warm smiles and handshakes. "Welcome to our school Annual day function Mr Martin." I nod and exchange my pleasantries with the Principal.

One of the teachers Ms Lily came forward and showed me my seat. I recognized her as she is the class teacher of Abigail and also the cultural and literary in charge of the primary school. "Thank you for sparing your valuable time and accepting our invitation of being the chief guest, Sir." Ms Lily let her words in gusto. I give her a pleasant smile. "That's no problem Ms Lily. The school and its children will always be special to me as Abigail studies here.

No sooner as I settled in my designated seat the announcement started. "Ladies and Gentlemen put your hands together to Mr Augustus Martin, a generous philanthropist, the CEO of Sunrise group of Industries who had kindly consented in giving us time out of his busy schedule in being the chief guest of our function." There was a round of applause from the crowd and one by one the children started performing on the stage in fancy dresses and radiant apparels.

The principal took his seat beside me and was speaking to me in praise about my generous donations towards the school. "That is no big deal Mr Steven." Just then I hear the name of the next participant to perform.

An unsettling feeling emerges at the pit of my stomach but I push away the involuntary thought aside. A junior around ten years of age with blue eyes, chocolate brown hair emerges at the stage and bows to the crowd. My heart skips a beat looking at the beautiful young boy. He looked just like me when I was young but how can it be possible? An unknown feeling of anxiety accompanied with warmness and familiarity races in my nerves. Is she alive but I saw.....dead body? "This is the song my dad used to play for my mom. Dad wherever you are I miss you and love you so much." The kid announces and starts playing mariage de amore on the piano, the same song that I used to play for Angelica.